< ?php wp_list_cats('optioncount=1&children=0&sort_column=name'); ?>
I found that by accident. I had been using:
< ?php wp_list_cats('optioncount=1&children=true&hide_empty=1'); ?>
or
< ?php wp_list_cats('optioncount=1&children=false&hide_empty=0'); ?>
and the reverse of both, flip-flopped, if you will.
I was using the WIKI for WP, looking at the tags and what was what.
This attribute: CHILDREN is for top categories to SHOW them or NOT to , use of this is TRUE or FALSE … Continue reading
I’m not sure I’ll be using Word Press entirely, though I’m trying to work it out that I do like it enough to do so 
One thing is, with MT I had customized my archive paths entirely to be easy to use based on date or category. Movable Type is a static setup.
WP is dynamic, so all paths are “virtual”. In order to use “virtual” paths entirely one must have .htaccess available. I don’t [yet]. ReWrite rules are used to direct traffic, that’s what WP uses .htaccess for. [I have other uses for .htaccess as well, so I hope it'll be turned on soon!]
Part of the permalink structure of WP allows you to customize the paths, and if you don’t have Rewrite access the custom paths DO work, as I’ve found out, except for certain aspects of them: Continue reading